A former frontrunner to succeed Sir Jim Paice as South East Cambridgeshire’s MP has claimed local hopefuls for the candidacy did not face a level playing field.

The Conservative candidate for 2015 will be picked at an open primary tomorrow but just one of the 15 long-listed candidates was from the constituency, and none of the final four are.

Cllr Roger Hickford, who represents Linton on Cambridgeshire County Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, resigned as the constituency chairman in September because he was seen as a favourite for the post – but he did not even make the longlist.

He spoke out amid claims from some members – strenuously denied by the party executive – that national Conservative headquarters wanted a female candidate for the seat, which is regarded as safe.

Of the 15 on the longlist, drawn up by a special sifting committee, nine were women.

The four to face the primary were picked by the local party executive, and three of these are women.

Steve Mastin, the head of history at Sawston Village College, was the only hopeful from South East Cambridgeshire to make the longlist. Cllr James Hockney, who represents Waterbeach, also lost out.

Cllr Hickford argued all three local candidates should have been put onto the longlist to give them a fair chance in front of the executive.

Arguing many members would have preferred a local candidate who could hit the ground running, Cllr Hickford told the News: “It’s up to each association how influenced they are by central office and central office can have a big influence if its allowed to.

“I don’t think there has been a level playing field in this case. I am not going to be able to change that but I don’t want it to happen elsewhere. The more people are aware of members’ feelings, hopefully the more members’ feelings will be taken into account”.

Peter Cresswell, the constituency chairman, denied any pressure had been applied by Conservative headquarters.

He said: “There was a very rigorous selection process. We had over 100 applications but only three were from members resident in South East Cambridgeshire.

“Everybody was treated equally on merit and the competition was very strong indeed.

“Now we are down to the final four, all of whom are outstanding, and any of them will make a fine candidate and MP.”